The Canonization by Donne - Feb 28

The Canonization by John Donne involves someone who is talking about their love and that it should not be ridiculed because it is a special type of love which is later explained to be a sexual love. He begins the poem by trying to make everyone like him by talking about his wealth and social status, “Observe His Honor or His Grace, Or the king’s real, or his stamped face Contemplate; what you will, approve, So you will let me love.” (673). Donne is talking about how he has some wealth by referencing the type of currency used in his time which had the current King’s face on it. Then, he moves on to make fun of love and how it is too over the top in the ways lovers mourn or grieve when they are apart, “What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned? Who says my tears have overflowed his ground?” (674). The lovers relationship is explained in that it is very powerful and they are drawn to each other in many ways which can even be sexual, “Call her one, me another fly, We’re tapers too, and at our own cost die.” (674). Flies are often a symbol for lustfulness and give indication of a sexual relationship between Donne and his lover. Near the end of this poem, Donne then says that he and his lover should be considered the saints of love and talks about being canonized, “The greatest ashes, as half-acre tombs, And by these hymns, all shall approve Us canonized for love.” (674). This poem has some metaphysical elements because Donne is discussing his sexual relationship with a woman and then saying that they should both be canonized which is something done to people to give them the title of saint which was a very holy and pure title for someone to have so it is quite a contradicting poem with the mixture of sexual desire and sainthood.